Cost of Living in UK: Breakdown of Living Cost in UK for International Students in 2025

Home to some of the world’s most prestigious universities like Oxford & Cambridge, the United Kingdom is a popular destination among thousands of study abroad aspirants. Apart from the outstanding academic standards, the UK attracts international students for a variety of other reasons as well. However, most Indian and international students are often worried about the expenses that they have to bear while studying in the UK. But the good news is, if managed effectively, the living expenses in UK for Indian students and other international students can be very manageable.

Therefore, to help you plan your expenditure smartly, we bring you a complete guide to the living expenses in UK for international students in detail. In this article, we have discussed the living cost in the UK by focusing on the living expenses in the UK for international students per month and everything related to it.

The estimated yearly cost of living in the UK for an international student is generally GBP 12,000. However, it can vary depending on a number of factors like accommodation, student’s lifestyle, basic expenses, etc. Before we discuss those factors in detail, here’s an overview of the living expenses in UK for Indian students and other international students.

NOTE: These costs are just rough estimates and may vary depending on a lot of factors like your lifestyle, the city you live in, university etc.

The UK Visa and immigration requires you to have £1,334 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London and £1,023 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London.

Suggested: Find out the Total Cost of Studying in UK for International Students

To understand your living expenses in UK structure further, let us discuss all the above factors in detail:

Accommodation

Accommodation is the most important part of your living cost in UK, and most of the expenses incurred will go on accommodation. Students can choose from different accommodation options like halls of residence on their university campus, private apartments, shared housing, dorms or local homestays. Halls of residence are the most popular type of accommodation among international students.

Here’s a look at the average rent for different types of accommodation options for students.

Apart from the kind of accommodation, your monthly cost of living in UK may also vary depending on the city you live in. For example, the living expenses in London for international students or Brighton can be expensive as compared to living in cities like Aberdeen or Manchester.

Take a look at the average rent in various popular student cities in the UK:

Food & Groceries

Food is an indispensable part of your cost of living in UK per month. Cost of food can be very well managed if you cook your own meals instead of eating in fancy restaurants. Eating out frequently can definitely increase your expenditure and can be expensive.

There are various Indian Grocery stores in the UK which provide all the ingredients for an Indian meal and Indian students can easily cook their meals. Hence, the cost of living in UK for Indian students can be managed well.

The costs of basic grocery and food in the UK is mentioned below:

Transportation

The UK cost of living also includes commuting around the city. Especially if your apartment is far from your university, you will have to consider these costs. But do not worry because there are plenty of student discounts available for international students that make the travelling costs very affordable.

Moreover, students can always use public transport because the UK's public transport system is very well connected and also very convenient. Taking a bus, train or tube or simply cycling around the city can be a very affordable travel option for international students as compared to taxis.

The common modes of transport and ticket costs are given below:

Household Bills

There are various household bills that come into the picture when living in the UK. Bills for electricity, water, mobile, internet etc, are important and should be paid on time. Most of the time, your rent itself includes all these bills but if it doesn't, you do have to consider the cost of various bills while staying in the UK. Additionally, there are health insurance bills too as a part of the cost of living in UK for Indian students.

Take a look at the average cost of all the bills that you might have to pay:

Entertainment

University life is certainly not just about studies, books, and tests. It is good to indulge in some leisure activities in order to build your social circle and explore the country and learn more about the culture and people. Hence, you should include the cost of leisure activities in your budget while calculating living expenses in UK for Indian students.

Take a look at some of the most common entertainment options and costs for the same.

Miscellaneous

Finally, miscellaneous expenditure includes a variety of things like leisure activities, shopping, stationery, toiletries, household items, and any other extra expenditure that you make. Please note that miscellaneous expenditure may vary from person to person and it totally depends on your personal lifestyle.

Hence, you must plan accordingly. It is highly recommended that you steer clear of luxury items and imported goods when you are trying to plan out a reasonable budget for living in the UK.

Take a look at some of the miscellaneous costs given below:

Suggested: Indian Student Life in UK

As we already discussed above, the cost of living in UK for Indian students is hugely impacted by the city you decide to stay in UK. Here’s a quick cost of living comparison of UK student living expenses among the most popular student cities:

Living in the UK can be somewhat expensive. However, there are various ways through which international students can save money. Some of them are:

• Student Discounts: There are amazing student discounts on everything in the UK, starting from shopping at the supermarket to buying movie tickets. These discounts can help manage UK student living expenses very well and hence these should be used as much as possible.
• Transportation Cards: If you are going to be using public transport very frequently, it is better to take a transport card which also offers discounts to students. For example, use a railcard or an Oyster card for your everyday travel.
• Cheaper Alternatives: This is probably the most common tip but still very important. If you are on a tight budget, you can look for cheaper alternatives when shopping in supermarkets. Avoid buying luxurious or imported items.
• Scholarships: Scholarships are the best option when it comes to covering the cost of living in UK for students. There are various scholarships in UK that may either cover your tuition fees or the entire cost of living. Research and apply to the scholarships which best suit you.
• Part-time Jobs: Part-time jobs are an excellent option if you are looking to earn extra income in the UK. Students are allowed to work 20 times a week and can earn around GBP 10 - 12 per hour.

Suggested: All about Finding the Best Part-time Jobs in UK for International Students

Managing the cost of Living in UK for Indian Students is basically all about effective planning and budgeting. Keeping track of your expenses and saving money as much as possible will definitely help you. Living and studying in the UK is an amazing experience for international students and will teach them about living independently, managing finances, and managing time.

Now you know the various factors that influence the cost of living for international students in UK. However, still, if you find difficulty at any step of your study abroad the process like applying for a suitable scholarship or finding a course within budget, worry not! You can subscribe to Yocket premium. Our well-trained and expert counsellors will surely guide you through!